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LovelandPolitics
| Loveland's Independent News Source |
Loveland, March 5, 2012
Despite promises of clean campaigning, the candidates hoping to be elected in 2012 to represent Colorado State
House District 51 and their supporters are finding negative information about one another. Both campaigns
believe the information is damaging enough to sway votes. All the evidence is pointing towards a rough campaign
for Colorado’s 51st State House District this summer.
LovelandPolitics has researched a number of the rumors circulating among both campaigns and found some to be
true while others are not.
Few candidates will admit to relying on negative campaigning to win elections, however, most campaigns conduct
“opposition research” which is a polite term for digging up dirt about your opponent’s past you hope to leverage
for votes during the campaign. In the race for State House District 51, both sides appear to believe they hit pay
dirt.
Loveland attorney Mark Shaffer, husband of Loveland Councilwoman Joan Shaffer, is challenging State House
Representative Brian DelGrosso to represent the 51st District which includes mostly Loveland. The Shaffers
have been involved in local Democratic Party politics and both have contributed significant time and money to
local elections.
The Shaffers have described DelGrosso, who is a Republican, as a “deadbeat” Dad unwilling to pay child support
- the same children he uses to pose for campaign pictures. According to one Shaffer supporter, DelGrosso is
required to pay his ex-wife alimony and/or child support via a District Attorney’s office as the result of previous
problems with his payments. Within Democratic party circles, volunteers say the Shaffers are excited about this
information and believe it gives Mark Shaffer the edge he needs in a traditionally Republican district to defeat an
entrenched incumbent.
Boomerang
The problem with negative campaigning is it can become a two way street. Neither candidate is timid or shy to
jump into a controversy and both will likely respond to any negative campaigning in a retaliatory fashion. Despite
these similarities, when it comes to politics and life perspectives the two couldn’t be farther apart.
Brian DelGrosso operates several Domino’s Pizza franchises in Loveland and Windsor while Shaffer is an
attorney with a small practice in downtown Loveland. DelGrosso, born in 1972, is a member of the x-generation
while Shaffer, born in 1950, is a baby-boomer who well represents his generation’s views on everything from sex
to corporate America. DelGrosso is self-described as a small government, low tax conservative while Shaffer
believes government can play an important role improving society and protecting the vulnerable. Shaffer also
supported the recent school bond measure increasing local property taxes.
According to local Republicans, the Shaffers are in no place to throw stones at DelGrosso for failing to keep
family obligations. Mark ended a 21 year marriage to 66 year-old Barbara Lynn Edin in 2005 before marrying
Joan Shaffer (formerly Joan Couse) two years later who is also a divorcee. While the Shaffers are not claiming to
be defenders of traditional family values, DelGrosso supporters claim the Shaffers' past also includes a drunk
driving arrest when they met, income tax delinquencies and a history of pushing for greater property taxes they
don't have to pay.
“We got more dirt on those two than money to educate people about all of it," stated one DelGrosso supporter
who claimed to be planning independent expenditures against the Shaffers that are not connected with the
candidate. According to state campaign laws, independent expenditures cannot be coordinated with a campaign
committee and retain their its ability to avoid campaign donation limits on candidates.
Specifics
Child Support Payment Problems – DelGrosso Says not true
While many of the allegations involving unpaid child support levied against Rep. Brian DelGrosso involve legal
proceedings outside Colorado, LovelandPolitics did verify a public record exists related to child support payments
in local courts that can be easily verified.
In 2010, the case LCDSS (Larimer County Department of Social Services) Vs. Brian DelGrosso was filed and
appears to be an action by Larimer County attorney Brian McGill to enforce and adjust child support payments
mandated against Rep. Brian DelGrosso. The local court action appears to be an attempt to enforce the “foreign”
judgment involving DelGrosso’s ex-wife who also hired an attorney for the proceedings. According to sources
close to the Shaffer campaign, DelGrosso is required to make payments to the District Attorney’s office to verify
payments are being made but DelGrosso disputes this claim. LovelandPolitics was unable to verify whether or not
this accusation is true but the evidence clearly indicates DelGrosso has been to court over a dispute involving child
support payments with both his ex-wife and local authorities.
Drunk Driving Accusations - false
Among the many rumors circulating about the Shaffers is that Loveland Councilwoman Joan Shaffer first met her
future husband, Mark Shaffer, while awaiting trial in a Boulder County jail on charges of DUI (Driving Under the
Influence).
While Councilwoman Joan Shaffer was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving in Boulder in 1999, court records
indicate she pleaded guilty only to hazardous driving and the drunk driving charges (along with DUI for .10+)
were dropped. Rumors that Mark defended her in court (explaining how the couple met) also appear to be false.
According to court documents, her attorney was another person and not her current spouse, Mark Shaffer.
Tax Delinquencies - true
According to Larimer County records, the Shaffers appear to have failed to pay their complete income taxes for
three consecutive years from 2007 to 2009. Identified in a “small business” category, it appears to be related to
the small legal practice run by Mark Shaffer in Loveland where his wife is also employed.
The United States Government filed a tax lien against both Mark and Joan Shaffer on July 27, 2010 for unpaid
taxes related to a 1040 form the couple filed for the 2007 tax year of $4,639. Four months later, the United
States Government filed another tax lien for unpaid taxes of $34,556 for 2008 and $13,984 for the tax year
2009. The 2008 and 2009 assessments were made in May of 2010 by the IRS and when nothing was collected
on the earlier assessment for 2007 a lien filed on November 24, 2010.
The IRS files tax liens to make a legal claim against any taxpayer who has not paid taxes owed despite numerous
attempts by the IRS to collect the taxes. In essence, a tax lien records the government’s claim against private
property to ensure one cannot liquidate assets without first paying the government their tax debt. In 2011, the
United States Government filed a release of tax lien for the Shaffers for money owed for their 2007 taxes. No
evidence was found by LovelandPolitics in local court records indicating the Shaffers also paid or settled the
amounts owed for their 2008 or 2009 delinquencies.
If indeed the Shaffers are still delinquent on taxes owed for the years of 2008 and 2009 than it can be potentially
harmful to Mark's campaign for public office.
Advocating Higher Property Taxes While Not Owning Property - True
LovelandPolitics looked into the allegation the Shaffers supported the recent Thompson School District bond
proposal while they don’t pay any property taxes. In essence, this is true as neither owns property in Larimer
County and rent their current home. While property ownership has not been a requirement to run for higher office
in over 100 years in this country, the fact they aggressively campaign to raise property taxes while not owning any
property could be an issue. On the flip side, Shaffer will likely argue they do indeed pay property taxes indirectly
every month they pay rent and their landlord in turn pays a portion of that rent to Larimer County.
Does Negative Campaigning Work?
According to Michael Mezey of DePaul University, negative campaigning helps motivate your volunteers and
supporters while embarrassing anyone who endorsed your opponent. While conventional wisdom is not to react
to negative ads, some candidates are forced to react since failure to address serious accusations may result in
lingering doubts about your character even by your most staunch supporters. However, once a campaign begins
defending their candidate they go into defense mode and are no longer gathering votes but instead simply trying to
retain those they already earned.
Race Summary
The contest for Colorado’s 51st State House District promises to be an interesting one. Shaffer enjoys
performing pro-bona legal work for the poor while engaging on local controversial issues. Not shy to spar with an
opponent, his intellect and charm will be a tough match for DelGrosso’s more rural style.
Raised in Wyoming, DelGrosso is a hard working candidate half the age of Shaffer who isn’t afraid of the hard
work of campaigning lesser disciplined candidates avoid. While he has been consistent in voting with members of
party in the Legislature, DelGrosso didn’t come into politics through party activities and instead describes himself
as a full time businessman and part time representative.
Please don't be shy and place your insights, comments or questions on our blog.
Despite promises of clean campaigning, the candidates hoping to be elected in 2012 to represent Colorado State
House District 51 and their supporters are finding negative information about one another. Both campaigns
believe the information is damaging enough to sway votes. All the evidence is pointing towards a rough campaign
for Colorado’s 51st State House District this summer.
LovelandPolitics has researched a number of the rumors circulating among both campaigns and found some to be
true while others are not.
Few candidates will admit to relying on negative campaigning to win elections, however, most campaigns conduct
“opposition research” which is a polite term for digging up dirt about your opponent’s past you hope to leverage
for votes during the campaign. In the race for State House District 51, both sides appear to believe they hit pay
dirt.
Loveland attorney Mark Shaffer, husband of Loveland Councilwoman Joan Shaffer, is challenging State House
Representative Brian DelGrosso to represent the 51st District which includes mostly Loveland. The Shaffers
have been involved in local Democratic Party politics and both have contributed significant time and money to
local elections.
The Shaffers have described DelGrosso, who is a Republican, as a “deadbeat” Dad unwilling to pay child support
- the same children he uses to pose for campaign pictures. According to one Shaffer supporter, DelGrosso is
required to pay his ex-wife alimony and/or child support via a District Attorney’s office as the result of previous
problems with his payments. Within Democratic party circles, volunteers say the Shaffers are excited about this
information and believe it gives Mark Shaffer the edge he needs in a traditionally Republican district to defeat an
entrenched incumbent.
Boomerang
The problem with negative campaigning is it can become a two way street. Neither candidate is timid or shy to
jump into a controversy and both will likely respond to any negative campaigning in a retaliatory fashion. Despite
these similarities, when it comes to politics and life perspectives the two couldn’t be farther apart.
Brian DelGrosso operates several Domino’s Pizza franchises in Loveland and Windsor while Shaffer is an
attorney with a small practice in downtown Loveland. DelGrosso, born in 1972, is a member of the x-generation
while Shaffer, born in 1950, is a baby-boomer who well represents his generation’s views on everything from sex
to corporate America. DelGrosso is self-described as a small government, low tax conservative while Shaffer
believes government can play an important role improving society and protecting the vulnerable. Shaffer also
supported the recent school bond measure increasing local property taxes.
According to local Republicans, the Shaffers are in no place to throw stones at DelGrosso for failing to keep
family obligations. Mark ended a 21 year marriage to 66 year-old Barbara Lynn Edin in 2005 before marrying
Joan Shaffer (formerly Joan Couse) two years later who is also a divorcee. While the Shaffers are not claiming to
be defenders of traditional family values, DelGrosso supporters claim the Shaffers' past also includes a drunk
driving arrest when they met, income tax delinquencies and a history of pushing for greater property taxes they
don't have to pay.
“We got more dirt on those two than money to educate people about all of it," stated one DelGrosso supporter
who claimed to be planning independent expenditures against the Shaffers that are not connected with the
candidate. According to state campaign laws, independent expenditures cannot be coordinated with a campaign
committee and retain their its ability to avoid campaign donation limits on candidates.
Specifics
Child Support Payment Problems – DelGrosso Says not true
While many of the allegations involving unpaid child support levied against Rep. Brian DelGrosso involve legal
proceedings outside Colorado, LovelandPolitics did verify a public record exists related to child support payments
in local courts that can be easily verified.
In 2010, the case LCDSS (Larimer County Department of Social Services) Vs. Brian DelGrosso was filed and
appears to be an action by Larimer County attorney Brian McGill to enforce and adjust child support payments
mandated against Rep. Brian DelGrosso. The local court action appears to be an attempt to enforce the “foreign”
judgment involving DelGrosso’s ex-wife who also hired an attorney for the proceedings. According to sources
close to the Shaffer campaign, DelGrosso is required to make payments to the District Attorney’s office to verify
payments are being made but DelGrosso disputes this claim. LovelandPolitics was unable to verify whether or not
this accusation is true but the evidence clearly indicates DelGrosso has been to court over a dispute involving child
support payments with both his ex-wife and local authorities.
Drunk Driving Accusations - false
Among the many rumors circulating about the Shaffers is that Loveland Councilwoman Joan Shaffer first met her
future husband, Mark Shaffer, while awaiting trial in a Boulder County jail on charges of DUI (Driving Under the
Influence).
While Councilwoman Joan Shaffer was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving in Boulder in 1999, court records
indicate she pleaded guilty only to hazardous driving and the drunk driving charges (along with DUI for .10+)
were dropped. Rumors that Mark defended her in court (explaining how the couple met) also appear to be false.
According to court documents, her attorney was another person and not her current spouse, Mark Shaffer.
Tax Delinquencies - true
According to Larimer County records, the Shaffers appear to have failed to pay their complete income taxes for
three consecutive years from 2007 to 2009. Identified in a “small business” category, it appears to be related to
the small legal practice run by Mark Shaffer in Loveland where his wife is also employed.
The United States Government filed a tax lien against both Mark and Joan Shaffer on July 27, 2010 for unpaid
taxes related to a 1040 form the couple filed for the 2007 tax year of $4,639. Four months later, the United
States Government filed another tax lien for unpaid taxes of $34,556 for 2008 and $13,984 for the tax year
2009. The 2008 and 2009 assessments were made in May of 2010 by the IRS and when nothing was collected
on the earlier assessment for 2007 a lien filed on November 24, 2010.
The IRS files tax liens to make a legal claim against any taxpayer who has not paid taxes owed despite numerous
attempts by the IRS to collect the taxes. In essence, a tax lien records the government’s claim against private
property to ensure one cannot liquidate assets without first paying the government their tax debt. In 2011, the
United States Government filed a release of tax lien for the Shaffers for money owed for their 2007 taxes. No
evidence was found by LovelandPolitics in local court records indicating the Shaffers also paid or settled the
amounts owed for their 2008 or 2009 delinquencies.
If indeed the Shaffers are still delinquent on taxes owed for the years of 2008 and 2009 than it can be potentially
harmful to Mark's campaign for public office.
Advocating Higher Property Taxes While Not Owning Property - True
LovelandPolitics looked into the allegation the Shaffers supported the recent Thompson School District bond
proposal while they don’t pay any property taxes. In essence, this is true as neither owns property in Larimer
County and rent their current home. While property ownership has not been a requirement to run for higher office
in over 100 years in this country, the fact they aggressively campaign to raise property taxes while not owning any
property could be an issue. On the flip side, Shaffer will likely argue they do indeed pay property taxes indirectly
every month they pay rent and their landlord in turn pays a portion of that rent to Larimer County.
Does Negative Campaigning Work?
According to Michael Mezey of DePaul University, negative campaigning helps motivate your volunteers and
supporters while embarrassing anyone who endorsed your opponent. While conventional wisdom is not to react
to negative ads, some candidates are forced to react since failure to address serious accusations may result in
lingering doubts about your character even by your most staunch supporters. However, once a campaign begins
defending their candidate they go into defense mode and are no longer gathering votes but instead simply trying to
retain those they already earned.
Race Summary
The contest for Colorado’s 51st State House District promises to be an interesting one. Shaffer enjoys
performing pro-bona legal work for the poor while engaging on local controversial issues. Not shy to spar with an
opponent, his intellect and charm will be a tough match for DelGrosso’s more rural style.
Raised in Wyoming, DelGrosso is a hard working candidate half the age of Shaffer who isn’t afraid of the hard
work of campaigning lesser disciplined candidates avoid. While he has been consistent in voting with members of
party in the Legislature, DelGrosso didn’t come into politics through party activities and instead describes himself
as a full time businessman and part time representative.
Please don't be shy and place your insights, comments or questions on our blog.
| Candidate websites: Brian DelGrosso Mark Shaffer Colorado State House 51st election will be held on November 6, 2012. All the 65 seats in the State Legislature will be up for election. April 2, 2012 is the deadline for candidates to file petitions to run in the primary. The primary election day will be June 26, 2012. Below are some stories in our archive regarding candidates for Colorado House District 51 Marostica Brian Delgrosso Appointed McNaught Qualifications |
| Colorado House District 51 Election: "Don't vote for the other guy" |
| Rep. Brian DelGrosso (Republican) |
| Mark Shaffer (Democrat) |
